Several months ago I embarked upon a new adventure, I began an online photography course with Robyn at Please Don't Say Cheese. I'd long been frustrated with my lack of photography skills and desperately wanted to improve but had no real idea how to 'go about it'. When I heard of the PDSC course I lamented that Robyn was in far away Sydney where she offers workshops to Sydney mums on the Northern Beaches. However after reading Chareen's review I realised an online workshop was a possibility.
Signing up for the course gives you a six month membership for an 8 week workshop, the time flexibility demonstrates an understanding and acceptance of busy mamas. There are other courses available as well, including 'in real life courses,' challenges and a VIP membership.
As a participant of the 8 week workshop you can access: Robyn's blog, video tutorials, images of all members and most exciting of all your course content! It is not necessary to own a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex camera) for the course, I only own a compact 'point and shoot' camera, though thanks to the course I have now learnt how to use my basic camera to a far better capacity than I was.
Covered were basic camera skills, exposure, composition and light, further the course challenged you to think photo potential in a creative manner, stressed the importance to avoid the 'cheese moments' and to tell stories with our photos. Lastly we undertook a lesson on how to edit our photos, in which I discovered I still had much to learn.
There are eight lessons in the course and many lessons have subtopics, some as many as five topics within a lesson. Each lesson is comprised of a teaching section, which is thorough and extremely well explained and an assignment. Robyn makes no assumptions as to your knowledge but explains all in terms that even a complete beginner like myself understood. At the conclusion of each lesson the content is summarised and then you are given your assignment, which you undertake and then select your four best photos to share.
Robyn continually encourages you to refer to the manual of your camera to familiarise yourself with all your camera is capable of. Robyn's mantra is 'practise, practise, practise' and the more I practised the more I saw wisdom in this mantra. Some days I would do a 'photo shoot,' take 200 and then only keep 5.
The assignments were challenging and interesting. You read your lesson, put your new knowledge to practice, then it was time to be vulnerable and share. Robyn was always encouraging, though challenging to always do my best. Without Robyn's encouragement I would never have taken my camera off its auto setting and discovered manual and aperture priority. Robyn's feedback and practical advice on each submission was extremely helpful not only in regards to skills but in teaching me how to see the world creatively in a way I had never done before. Robyn has helped me analyse my photos, to notice positives and detractions in my photos, to be aware of factors such as background clutter, shadows on faces, catchlights present or not on eyes and iso noise (grainy).
At the conclusion of each lesson you must upload your image before the program allows you to progress to the next lesson. This systematic approach, building blocks of knowledge and skill was indeed wise, though for a girl who sometimes likes to read the last chapter of a book, yikes, it was difficult to follow the rules, blush.
During our lifetime there will be several 'game changer' decisions we make, in all honesty I can say undertaking an online photography course with Please Don't Say Cheese has been a 'game changer' for myself and our family. The growth that I saw from one of the first photos I submitted
to my last really says it all.
Robyn has kindly agreed to give my lovely readers a very special offer.
A FREE trial of her newest version of the 8 week course - Moments That Matter!
You can explore it for 3 days and if you decide to not go ahead, simply cancel and you will not be charged at all, no questions asked!
Even better, a payment plan is available that enables you to pay in small increments over 6 months, making it even more affordable.
Check it out: Please Don't Say Cheese: MTM Free for 3
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Disclaimer: In exchange for my review, in which I have given my honest opinion, I was offered a free place in the Please Don't Say Cheese online photography course.
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I need these tips! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMary
DeleteCheck out the free tips on her site too
How exciting :) I think I need to sign up again and complete my course. I think I'll do so in Spring to make use of the lovely light available. I will look for you on the forum :)
ReplyDeleteChareen
DeleteHadn't realised you never finished. Do finish, the editing at the end was great too.
didn't even realise there was a forum! Would I still have access to that?